2 Kings 17:28-34

28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in 1Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them 2in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived.
30 The men of 3Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites 4burned their children in the fire to 5Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of 6Sepharvaim.
32 7They also feared the LORD 8and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of 9the high places.
33 So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
34 To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, 10whom he named Israel.

2 Kings 17:28-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 17

This chapter relates the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel, and how it came about, 2Ki 17:1-6, the cause of it, their idolatry, which they persisted in, notwithstanding the remonstrances made against it, 2Ki 17:7-23, in whose stead were placed people from different parts, who exercised a mixed religion, partly Heathenish, and partly Israelitish, 2Ki 17:24.

Cross References 10

  • 1. 1 Kings 12:29
  • 2. 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:32
  • 3. ver. 24
  • 4. See ver. 17
  • 5. [2 Kings 19:37]
  • 6. ver. 24
  • 7. [Zephaniah 1:5]
  • 8. See 1 Kings 12:31
  • 9. ver. 29
  • 10. Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:10; 1 Kings 18:31
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.